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Incident Reporting and Support

This guide aids University of Maryland Graduate Students in understanding their options and the process for reporting harassment, discrimination, and other concerns that may arise. Please navigate the situation options below for UMD-specific guidance and resources available.

If you have been the target of bias (or have witnessed an incident), please report the incident on this Hate-Bias Form.

Please select the type of support or resources you need from below:

The University of Maryland is committed to maintaining a learning and work environment where students, faculty, and sta can develop intellectually, professionally, personally, and socially. Such an environment must be free of intimidation, fear, coercion, and reprisal. The University prohibits sexual harassment. Sexual harassment may cause others unjustifiable offense, anxiety, and injury. Sexual harassment threatens the legitimate expectations of all members of the campus community. Academic progress or progress in employment is determined by the publicly stated requirements of classroom and job performance, and the campus environment will not unreasonably impede study or work. 

Sexual harassment by university faculty, staff, and students is prohibited and constitutes a violation of campus policy. Sexual harassment may also constitute violations of the criminal and civil laws of the State of Maryland and the United States. For the purpose of campus policy, sexual harassment is defined as follows:

1) unwelcome sexual advances,

2) unwelcome requests for sexual favors

3) other behavior of a sexual nature where:

  • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or participation in a university-sponsored educational program or activity; or
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual; or
  • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual's academic or work performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment.

The full text of the University of Maryland Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures can be found online. Please navigate the situation options below for UMD-specific guidance and resources available:

Gender-based harassment or discrimination is unwelcome conduct based on an individual’s actual or perceived sex. It includes slurs, stereotypes, name-calling, physical threats, attacks, or other hateful or discriminatory conduct. The definitions have been developed by the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. (HHS.gov) 

The University of Maryland is an equal-opportunity institution with respect to both education and employment. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, or disability in admission to or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities, as required by federal law (Title VI, Title IX, Section 504) and state laws and regulations.

Harassing someone based on that person’s race or color, also known as race-based harassment, is unlawful. Race-based harassment includes

  • Racial Slurs
  • Offensive or derogatory remarks
  • Display of racially offensive symbols.

Harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile environment or adverse event.  

Please navigate the situation options below for UMD-specific guidance and resources available:

It is the policy of the University of Maryland to maintain the campus as a place of study and work for students, faculty, and staff in which all parties are expected to uphold the values of the University by conducting themselves in accordance with University policies and procedures. Such an environment must be free of intimidation, fear, coercion, reprisal, harassment, bullying, or other unacceptable behaviors. Graduate students can expect to be treated fairly, with dignity, and respect as outlined in the University Non-discrimination Policy and Procedures [VI-1.00(B)].

The resources listed below are confidential, meaning the student can discuss concerns, and the information will not be reported to the Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct or The Graduate School. Depending on the situation, please select who you feel most comfortable talking to. 

Faculty, academic advisors, instructors, and teaching assistants employed at UMD are required to notify the Title IX Officer when they become aware of any type of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship abuse, domestic or dating violence, and stalking, including such conduct occurring via email, texting, and other electronic means. The reporting obligation applies no matter where the conduct occurred and applies to disclosures in written assignments. The Title IX Officer will further explore the issues with the student/colleague.

University Policy requires that all UMD Faculty, Teaching Assistants, and Academic Advisors Are Responsible University Employees (RUE) and are Required To Report ALL Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. This includes the context of academic advising sessions and individual appointments - as they are NOT confidential. This obligation is presented in the online training that all university employees are required to complete.

University Health Center - Behavioral Health Services

The University Health Center, a department within the University of Maryland Division of Student Affairs, provides high-quality, cost-effective healthcare and wellness programs in order to promote the health of the University community and support academic success.

There are times when students struggle, and they can help if you are seeking support.

Phone: 301-314-8106

University of Maryland Chaplains 

In the open, inclusive environment of many cultures and faiths, the Chaplaincies work collectively to serve the spiritual needs of the University of Maryland. The Chaplains, supported by and representing their faith communities, serve their faith traditions while demonstrating a unity that contributes to the rich diversity and quality of life at the University and in the community.

Counseling Center 

To advance the University’s mission, the primary focus of the University of Maryland Counseling Center is to provide comprehensive and effective psychological, career, academic, testing, accessibility, and disability services to meet the personal, developmental, mental health, and educational needs of its diverse student body. They strive to uphold the highest standards of the University, the Division of Student Affairs, and our profession for ethical and responsible service delivery. (Counseling Center Mission Statement Fall 2022)

CARE to Stop Violence

Your well-being and healing are our priority. CARE keeps information private and confidential. You can tell us as much or as little as you want to; you can even be anonymous. 

UMD Health Center: 301-314-2222

CARE 24-hour Resource Line: 301-741-3442

Email: care@health.umd.edu

Ombuds Office 

The Ombuds Office provides confidential and informal assistance in resolving these conflicts and promotes fair and equitable treatment within the university. Communications with an Ombuds are confidential, and no information or opinion presented to an Ombuds (or even the fact that the Ombuds has been contacted) will be passed on to other parties without the express permission of the complainant. The only exceptions to confidentiality are when there appears to be an imminent risk of serious harm to self or others or if required by law, litigation, or University policy (e.g., sexual misconduct, child/elder abuse, or criminal activity).

Graduate Student Ombudsman:

Dr. Mark A. Shayman

shayman@umd.edu

2449 A.V. Williams Bldg.

TEL 301-405-3667

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